Directed by Ethan Clarkewallis
Greenbelt Arts Center.
September 22 & 24. 8-10pm
What is a king? More importantly, what is a good king? It’s certainly not Richard. In this adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s histories, Richard is the head of a prolific mafia family that runs its operation out of an Italian restaurant. His volatile moods and frivolous spending are enough to garner distaste among the vox populi, but for many uncles and cousins, a fondness for Richard’s late father is enough to absolve Richard. However, the suspicious death of his Uncle Gloucester and the downright damning death of Uncle Gaunt are enough to stoke the fires of rebellion.
Those who suffer most under Richard’s power have little recourse to unseat him by themselves. Fortunately, Bolingbroke, Gaunt’s son and Richard’s cousin, has returned from banishment to claim his father’s fortune. He becomes the perfect tool to unseat the current tyrant: He is popular, he is persuasive, and he is not Richard.
The Rude Mechanicals present Richard II as a rumination on family, loyalty, and the cycle of violence in the style of movies like The Godfather and Goodfellas.
Auditions will be held on Tuesday September 22nd and Thursday September 24th from 8pm-10pm at the Greenbelt Arts Center (123 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD 20770). Auditions will consist of reading provided sides. Headshots and resumes are welcome but not required. You may attend either audition day. No appointments are required and no callbacks are expected.
Rehearsals will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8pm-10pm and will take place in Greenbelt.
Performances of Richard II will take place January 29th-February 6th with a 2pm Sunday matinee and a Thursday pay-what-you-will night(6 performances total).
The Rude Mechanicals are an all-volunteer organization.
Additional Audition/Character Information:
There are 14 characters and 2 non-speaking stage-hand roles that include fight choreography.
Gender is a contentious subject in the context of this cut. There are depictions of period accurate misogyny meant to highlight the depth of the female characters and their relationships. Some characters are gendered in ways that are important to the hierarchy imposed. That said, casting will be genderblind. Moreover, the presentation and gender identity of your character is something we can come up with together.
The Rude Mechanicals practice race-conscious casting. All roles are open. All ages, genders, races, religions, ethnicities, and abilities welcome. A diverse cast is desired.
KING RICHARD II – M – The Usurped – ~360 lines
Richard is an insecure person, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he acts. Every moment of vulnerability should be paired with an assurance that he is still in control. He gilds himself with fancy clothes and careful grooming to present a very purposeful image to his family. He lives in the shadow of his predecessor, and he’ll do anything to separate himself from their reputation.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE – M – The Usurper – ~140 lines
Henry Bolingbroke is everything Richard is not. He is loved by the family where Richard is tolerated. While he seems unassuming, he is surprisingly persuasive and cunning. Whether his reputation as the loyal, hardworking alternative to Richard is sincere or perfectly crafted depends on what you bring to the role.
JOHN OF GAUNT – M – The Harbinger – ~70 lines
John of Gaunt is Richard’s uncle and Bolingbroke’s father. His death in Act 2 sets off conflict that defines the rest of the play. While this role is brief, it is undoubtedly one of the most important roles in the play. His final words are a biting critique of Richard’s actions, and regardless of interpretation, they should be powerful enough to stick with the audience.
DUKE OF YORK – M – The Vacillator – ~110 lines
The Duke of York is the uncle of Richard and Bolingbroke. When forced to choose between his nephews, York puts off his decision as long as he can. He was a firm supporter of Richard’s father, and his own father before him, but he hesitates to rock the boat or force change. When Bolingbroke takes to power, York falls in line accordingly.
DUCHESS OF YORK – F – The Wellwisher – ~60 lines
The Duchess of York is the wife of the Duke of York and the mother of the Duke of Aumerle. While she would rather keep the peace, our Duchess of York stands by a code of ethics. She is motivated by fairness and the law as it’s dictated by her family. Throughout the story, she grapples with whether those goals contradict each other or not.
DUKE OF AUMERLE – M – The Confidant – ~90 lines
The Duke of Aumerle is Richard’s most loyal friend. He is also the son of the Duke and Duchess of York. While most of Richard’s friends and supporters are his underlings, Aumerle was once his peer. When Richard is king, Aumerle wants nothing more than his success. When Richard is deposed, Aumerle is ready to throw himself on the sword beside him.
QUEEN ANNE – F – The Better-half – ~110 lines
The queen is unnamed in Richard II, but we have taken to calling her Anne after the real-life Richard’s first wife. While Aumerle is Richard’s friend and confidant, the Queen is his beloved co-conspirator. She matches his boisterous energy and is willing to take charge when things seem dire.
BUSHY – ? – The Gardener – ~90 lines
Bushy is the go-to for cutting branches of trees, family or otherwise. There is a coldness to Bushy that comes with killing for work. Bushy should have a meaningful presence even in scenes when they don’t speak much. Bushy is loyal to the family at large, rather than any individual, but it’s still painful to turn against those once cared for.
BAGOT – ? – The Lackey – ~30 lines – Possibly doubled with Henry Percy
Bagot is another of Richard’s loyal supporters and friend of Bushy’s.
DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER – F – The Serpent – ~100 lines
While the Duchess of Gloucester has very little presence in the original Richard II, our Duchess takes on the role of quiet schemer. After the death of her husband, and the cold reception of her grief, she dedicates herself to Richard’s deposing through the subtle manipulation of Northumberland. Our Duchess of Gloucester is defined by her intelligence and conviction.
NORTHUMBERLAND – M – The Pawn – ~90 lines
Northumberland sees Richard’s deposing as an opportunity for upward mobility for himself and his family. He becomes the proxy for the Duchess of Gloucester’s dissent. While he’s not unwilling, he finds himself useful to the Duchess in a culture that disregards a woman’s grievances.
HENRY PERCY – M – The Rookie – ~40 lines – Possibly doubled with Bagot
Henry Percy is the youngest member of this cast of characters. He’s a busboy at the restaurant, but his father, Northumberland, has big dreams for his future in the family. Under his father’s guidance and the tutelage of Bushy, Henry Percy prepares for his role as dissenter and disposer.
DUKE OF SURREY – M – The Witness – ~20 lines – Possibly doubled with Thomas Mowbray
The Duke of Surrey plays a small role in the unseating of King Richard. However, when lies spread to unjustly punish Richard’s supporters, his honor prevents him from simply standing by.
THOMAS MOWBRAY – M – The Fall Guy – ~40 lines – Possibly doubled with Duke of Surrey
Thomas Mowbray is a loyal supporter of Richard. In the beginning of the show, Bolingbroke accuses him of killing Gloucester, and in his pride, he refuses to take the blame. This leads to his banishment.
STAGE HANDS WITH FIGHT CHOREO – 0 lines
Stage hands will present as waiters (lower members of the family) to execute scene changes and also Richard. We’ll likely only need one or two.
The Rude Mechanicals 